Memorial plaques and the like



DeC 31', '1957 A. A. cHArKl'N MEMORIAL PLAQUES AND THE LIKE Filed March 29, 1957 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 FTQ. 3.

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Dec. 31, 1957 A. A. cHATKlN MEMORIAL PLAQUES AND THE LIKE 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 29, 1957 A. A. CHATKIN MEMORIAL PLAQUES AND THE LIKE Dec. 31, 1957 3 Sheets-Sheen 3 Filed March 29, 1957 United States Patent O MEMORIAL PLAQUES AND THE LIKE Albert A. Chatkn, Chicago, Ill.

Application March 29, 1957, Serial No. 649,376

14 Claims. (Cl. 40-132) The present invention has to do with improvements in memorial plaques, and the like. These devices are intended to display the names or identications of individuals whose memory is to be publicized and kept alive. Various devices intended to accomplish the foregoing general objective have vbeen designed in the past. Accordiingly, the following statement is presented to disclose specific objectives and purposes in the uses and functions of the particular devices hereinafter illustrated and described, and to differentiate the same from such earlier known and used devices.

Specifically, the memorial plaques herein disclosed have been designed for use in connection with certain of the memorial observances and customs of one or more religious faiths, and especially such observancesy and cusitoms which are closely associated with the practices of the Jewish faith. It has long been the custom in that faith to make provision, at one or more appropriate locations in the temple of worship, for display of the names of deceased persons, generally but not necessarily relatives of those arranging for such displays, usually associating the dates of birth and death with such displayed names. To this end there have long been provided large plaques whereon the displayed names are inscribed in a permanent manner. Frequently the display of each name is provided for by a suitable gift or compensation to the temple or a designated charitable organization, thus' beneiiting the recipient of such gift or compensation financially. Usually each such plaque is of size and design to accommodate a substantial number of the displayed names, for example as many as several dozen names. When each name is accommodated on a plate of the size of the order of three by eight inches (being large enough to provide a good but not ostentatious display of the name), it is evident that the plaque itself will be of substantial size, such as 43 inches wide and 64 inches high.

Heretofore these plaques and the individual display plates have been of more or less conventional form and arrangement, and there has been a tendency to allow them to become deteriorated or dirty due to lack of attention and periodical cleaning or similar attention. Accordingly, it has often happened that some or many of the displayed names have in times become obscured so that they have ceased to effectively perform their intended and desired function of holding the attention of the observer. Thus such a plaque loses much of its original signicance and intended memorial value. It is here observed that even when such a conventional form of plaque is illuminated from in front the names which it displays are not and cannot be readily distinguished by the reected light yof such a front face illumination when wholly or partially obscured by dust and. dirt and such grime as soon collects on the exposed face of the plaque.

At this point I also call attention to. another and important custom and observance in the use of these plaques which. is closely related to certain of the religious rites and customs with which such plaques are associated. This is as` follows:

IhaS 1011 been they custom to call special attentionV to names shown; on the plaque attheanniversaries of the deathsl of thezmemorialized, persons. Usually each name on the plaque isintendedI to receive. special displayy on each anniversaryof` the death of the person whose name isdisplayed. Furthermoret has also long 'been' the custom4 to display alliof. the names=0nz the plaquer by special means on` one or; more` religiousr or; feast days, such as the Passover of thezlewishA faith; It hasv thus been the custom to: malieprovision: of individual illumination of each name plate of the; plaque onthe. anniversary of the death of the individual; and, for illumination of. all of' the name plates of the plaque omsuch religious orfeast day or days. Tothe foregoing end it has-.longbeen known to make provision for front faceiilluminaton of each of the name plates carried bythe. plaque. Originally this was done by use of a candleor they like suitably placedv and supported adjacent to-the name plate; and morerecently this result has'been effected by the use of a simple electric lamp locatedclose to the front face of each name plate. By screwing a lamp fully into its socket its illumination has been|` effected; by slightlyV unscrewing the lamp its illumination has been= terminated. In allL such cases, however, theillumination has beenfeffected from thefront face of the plate, and by reliected light. Accordingly, dirt and other grime which collects on the frontl and exposed surfaces of the name plates seriously detracts from the clarity of display ofthe names'.

Itis a prime object ofv my present invention to provide an improved construction of plaque to meet therequirements already referred toe for such devices intended especially fory installation and use inv places of worship and religious observance. It is especially an object of the invention to provide a plaqueconstructionanddesign such as to meet and substantially, overcome the various objections hereinbeforeV stated which havev militated against such devices as previously known and used. In this connection it'is intended' to makeprovision for illumination of each name p late by transmitted light coming from behind" such name plate,vso thatV accumulations of dust and dirt will not as seriously affect the observed illumination of the name plate and its beauty when seen from in front.

As previously explained', the complete plaque contains provision for a substantial' number, of the individualname plates. When the entire plaqueis donated to the temple or placeof worship by an individual or group it is desirable to make display of such fact. Accordingly, I have madeiprovi'sion for display of the name of the donor or donors of theplaqueitself, Whenthis is done I have also madeprovision.forilluminationof such so-displayed name or namesby transmitted light.

When the plaque is installed.y in thetemple` or other place of worship it may happen and will usually be the case thatsome or many of the plates have` not been re,i served to the memory of deceased individuals. In fact, generally numerous of the name plates will remain vacant `for some time, and willfbe'v taken for the-use of deceased individuals as, deaths occur from time to time. Also, it may happen thatafter thepassage of anumber of years a name plate, formerly-reserved, for the name of one individual, may` be. surrenderedv for the use. of another individuals name. Thus, it is4 desirable to make provision for readychange of` thel name plates from time to time, or for insertion of name plates carrying names where such names havenot previously-appeared.

It is: an important feature of my present invention to make provision for ready insertion or removal of the indi- 3 vidual name plates from the plaque as a whole. These name plates as herein disclosed are contained in or supported by one or more doors which are hinged to the frame of the plaque. Such doors, when closed carry their contained name plates into juxtaposition with light boxes corresponding to such name plates, which light boxes are individual to the several name plates. Provision is made for sealing each name plate directly against its light box when such door is closed, to bring the peripheral portion of such name plate into light-sealing engagement with the proximate forward edge periphery of its light box, so that lateral leakage of light from each light box is avoided. Thus, there is completely avoided any improper illumination of any light box by avoidance of such lateral leakage of light from the proximate light boxes which may at the time be illuminated. Thus, too, there is assurance that the illumination of each light box whose individual lamp is at the time illuminated shall be strongly emphasized by the non-illumination of proximate non-illuminated light boxes, such emphasis being magnified by the complete darkness of the proximate non-illuminated light boxes.

The present disclosures are such that the aforesaid light sealing effect is produced by a construction in which the closing of the door brings the edge perimeter of each name plate carried by such door into firm sealing engagement with a soft yieldable surface material carried by the periphery of the corresponding light box. Such yieldable material may be of any suitable nature, but I have found that such elastic materials as foam rubber, of soft specili* cation, cemented or otherwise secured to the edge perimeter of the light box, provides an excellent material for the intended purpose.

Upon opening any selected door the name plate or plates carried by such door are swung away from the yieldable material carried by the perimeters of the corresponding light boxes, since such yieldable material is permanently secured to the light box perimeters. Accordingly, the name plate or plates carried by such now open door may be readily cleaned on their interior surfaces if such cleaning is desired. Also, the herein disclosedconstructions are such that, having thus opened the door the name plate or any selected name plate carried by such door, may be readily removed from the door, either for renewal or for substitution of another name plate, or for other purposes, without disturbance of any other name plate carried by such door. Such constructions include spring pressed leaves or like elements carried by the door, and adapted to engage the edge portions of the inside face of the name plate or name plates corresponding to such spring pressed leaves, and thus normally retaining the name plate or plates securely engaged `with door openings corresponding to them. By forcing any selected name plate rearwardly with respect to its suppporting door, with corresponding yield of the spring pressed retaining means, such name plate may be released from its engagement with such door, and removed from such door. Then another name plate may be substituted for such previous name plate in simple manner, and without the need of using any special tool or tools during the operation.

It will be understood that each of the name plates is formed on transparent or translucent'material with the desired insignia carried by such name plate and made visible by transmitted light when the interior of such light box is illuminated. Such illumination is etfected by illumination of an electric lamp mounted and socketed within the light box in question. I have also mounted a switch individual to such electric lamp within each such light box, and manually operable only when the corresponding door is opened, such switch operation then being individual to such lamp. Thus, to turn on or off the lamp illumination for any selected name plate it is necessary to open the corresponding door to gain access to the proper switch forsuch lamp. Additionally, l have also provided a main switch arrangement through which current for all of the light box lamps is supplied, so that,

having turned on or oli the switches for selected individual light box lamps, the entire group thus pre-conditioned may be group controlled by such main switch when desired.

Now in order to obtain the most effective light trans mission from the individual light box lamp to its corresponding name plate, I prefer to coat the walls, ends, and bottom of each light box with good light reflecting surfacing, such as enamel paint or the like, preferably white. Having done this, the interior of each light box may be kept in best light reflecting condition by cleaning such interior light box surfaces from time to time, by a damp cloth. ln order to enable this result to be most perfectly' attained I have so designed and constructed the entire plaque assembly of its many light boxes that no flanges or other inwardly extending projections of an interfering nature are present within such light box, lwith the exception of the necessary supports of the lamp socltet, its switch, and associated elements.

A further and important feature of the present invcntion relates to the construction of the plaque as a Whole, including its light boxes, doors, and other elements. To this end I have provided a sheet metal construction in in which, by the use of simple structural elements, including Zbars, angle bars, and sheets, a sectionalizctl construction has been produced which can be manufactured at minimum cost and from a comparatively small number of standardized sectional elements. Each of these sectional elements includes a vertical column containing a group of light boxes in vertical alignment, and of selected number, for example, twelve. Such column comprises Vertical side Z-bars having their rear lianges secured to a back sheet so that such side bars project forwardly from such rear sheet to which they are secured as by tack Welding or the like. The individual light boxes of such column are provided by horizontal plates, preferably o angle section, extending between the two Z-bars of such column. Thus the top and bottom enclosures of each light box comprise the webs of the two horizontal angle plate elements, the two sides of such light box comprise the proximate portions of the webs of the two vertical columns, and the back of such light box is produced by the proximate portion of the back sheet. The top and bottom plates are suitably formed, and the vertical Zbars are suitably slotted, to enable an interlocking operation to be performed during the assembly of the unit so that, once such assembly has been effected the light box will comprise a stable and secure element of the entire ensemble of light boxes comprising the plaque.

The arrangement is also such that the front flanges of the two vertical Z-bars above referred to, and the front anges of the top and bottom plates of the light box or boxes lie within a common vertical plane, presenting an encircling flange surrounding the individual light box in question. I then cement or otherwise adhere the soft yieldable material, such as the foam rubber strip material, to such flanges to thus provide a uniform thickness of such soft material surrounding each light box. I also so form the transparent or translucent windows or name plates, and I so mount them in their corresponding openings of the door, that when such door is closed each such name plate is brought firmly and evenly to register with such encircling band of the soft yieldable material that encircles or surrounds the corresponding light box. The completion of the door closing `operation then actually slightly compresses such band of soft yieldable material, so that it is firmly engaged in light tight fashion with the periphery of the name plate, but without actual attachment thereto, there being no cernenting action produced between each name plate and such band of soft yieldable material. Accordingly, when afterwards the door is opened the name plate or name plates carried thereby will be removed from such bands of the soft yieldable material of their respective light boxes, and without impairment of such material, leaving such material in cone dition-for light sealing engagement with the same or another name plate when the door is again closed. l

Conveniently, two, or more, columns or stacks of the light boxes may be served by a single door. In such case both or all of such columns are secured to the back sheet side by side and in vertical alignment with each other. Then, the door being of suiicient width to serve both such columns, the closing of such door will bring name plates corresponding to the light boxes of both columns into proper engagement with the soft yieldable material bands of the corresponding light boxes. In the embodiment hereinafter described in detail I have provided four such columns of light boxes, and two companion doors, hinged to the back sheet, so that when such two doors are closed to bring their proximate edges together -all of the light boxes of all four of the columns will be properly served with corresponding windows or name plates.

Other objects and uses of the invention will appear from a detailed description of the same, which consists in the features of construction and combinations of parts hereinafter described and claimed.

In the drawings:

Figure l shows a front face view of a memorial plaque embodying the features of my present invention, and including four vertical columns of light boxes, the housing being provided with two companion doors with their transparent or translucent name plates, such doors being shown in closed position; and the embodiment shown in this iigure includes a name plate for the donor or donors of the memorial plaque;

Figure 2 shows a right-hand edge view corresponding to Figure 1;

Figure 3 shows a top plan View corresponding to Figures l and 2;

Figure 4 shows a vertical front elevation of the interior of the structure shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3, being a vertical section taken on the lines 4 4 of Figures l and 3; and Figure 4 may also be considered as a front elevational view of the structure when both of the doors are fully opened, showing the light boxes of the four columns; and this figure is on enlarged scale as compared to Figures l, 2 and 3;

Figure 5 shows a horizontal section taken on the line 5 5 of Figure 4, looking in the direction of the arrows, on enlarged scale as compared to Figure 4;

Figures 6 and 7 are horizontal sections taken on the lines 6 6 and 7 7, respectively, of Figure 4, looking in the directions of the arrows, and on the same scale as that of Figure 5;

Figure 8 is a fragmentary vertical section taken on the line 8 8 of Figure 4, looking in the direction of the arrows, and on enlarged scale as compared to Fig-` ures 5, 6 and 7;

Figure 9 is a fragmentary vertical section taken on the line 9 9 of Figure 4, looking in the direction of the arrows, and on the same scale as that of Figure 8;

Figure 10 is a fragmentary vertical section through the proximate edge portions of two adjacent light boxes and their companion windows or name plates; and this gure shows the spring plate arrangement by which the proximate edge portions of such adjacent windows are spring pressed into working positions in the companion openings of the door, whereby such windows may be individually released from engagement with the door openings when desired;

Figure 11 shows a partially sectional view of one of the windows or name plates with one of its ends raised against the spring pressure high enough to allow such window or name plate to be inserted or removed from the corresponding door opening by endwise movement of such window, that is, movement laterally with respect to the door itself;

Figure l2 shows on enlarged scale as compared to Figures 8 and 9, one of the windows or name plates in longi- 6 tudinal section in its normal or working position in the corresponding door opening; Y

Figure 13 shows a front face view of one of the windows or name plates, on the same scale as that of Figure 12;

Figure 14 showsa face view of one of the top and bottom plates by which the several light boxes are enclosed, and this ligure shows the end notches which interlock with the slots formed in the vertical Z-bars to receive such end portions of such plates; and

Figure l5 shows, a fragmentary vertical section taken on the line 15 15 of Figure 5, looking in the direction of the arrows.

The structure shown in the drawings includes the back plate 20 which extends the full height of the unit and the full width of the unit with the edges of such back plate bent forward as shown in Figures 5, 6 and 7 in particular, to provide the flanges 21 and 22. As shown in Figure 1 the unit comprises a housing or cabinet including the relatively short upper and lower sections 23 and 24, and the much larger (vertically) central section 25, wherein are located the light boxes for the numerous individuals to be memorialized. The upper and lower sections will be referred to hereinafter.

The anges 21 and 22 are so formed that they are slightly closer together in that portion of the unit which comprises the central section 25 than in the upper and lower portions of the unit which comprise the sections 23 and 24. In said upper and lower sections said side anges provide the right and left-hand walls of the said sections, whereas in the central section 25 said flanges provide elements to which hinges for the doors, presently to be described, may be connected.

The two doors are shown in various figures, being identified as 26 and 27, respectively. Each door is of height corresponding to the height of the central section 25, and each door spans one-half the width of the unit, so that when the two doors are closed into the position shown in various figures their proximate edges come together to complete the enclosure of various light box elements, notably the four columns of light boxes previously referred to. To ensure good closure the left-hand door 26 has, along its right-hand vertical edge, the narrow strip 28, preferably tack welded to the inside face of such door edge, which strip underlies the proximate edge portion of the door 27 when both doors are closed. A suitable lock or latch, schematically shown at 28, may be provided to retain the doors in closed position when proper.

Examination of Figures 5, 6 and 7 in particular shows that the outer edge portions of the two doors are bent and extended rearwardly at 29 and 30, for the two doors, respectively. These portions 29 and 30 thus extend back far enough to provide the side walls of the unit through that vertical dimension which corresponds to the'section 25. Such portions have their extreme rear edges comprising portions of the piano hinges 31 and 32, which hinges extend the full height of such central section 25. The companion leaves of these hinges are shown at 33 and 34 in the form of leaves lying between the forwardly extending edge portions 21 and 22 of the back sheet and the rearwardly extending edge portions 29 and 30 of the two doors. Such leaves 33 and 34 are bolted or riveted to the back sheet portions 21 and 22 as shown in various of the iigures.

Since the right and left-hand edge portions of the back sheet 20 which edge portions are also extended forwardly at the upper and lower sections 23 and 24 of the unit to comprise the sides of such upper and lower sections, it follows that such upper and lower section portions of the forwardly extended back sheet edges must be formed somewhat farther apart than the portions thereof which are located at the central portion 25 of the unit. Otherwise the right and left-hand sides of the completed unit would be off-set at the locations where the central section 25 comes to the upper and lower sections 23 and 1 l 24. Such condition is provided for in the unit illustrated, in which it is seen that both the right and left-hand sides of the complete unit are continuous and of the same width throughout the height of the unit. In reality, the sides of the unit throughout the height of the central section are formed by the rearwardly extended edge portions of the two doors, when such doors are closed.

It is now seen that the back sheet, the upper and lower sections 23 and 24, and the two doors with their rearwardly formed edge portions, comprise in effect a cabinet of the three sections. Within this cabinet and occupying the central section 2S, are located the columns of light boxes presently to be described in detail. These four columns are shown at 35, 36, 37 and 38, respectively in Figure 4, as Well as in Figures 5, 6 and 7, and, in fragmentary form, in other figures. At this point I call attention `to the fact that each of the doors is provided with a series of window openings, shown at 39 in Figure l, located at positions in horizontal alignment with the light boxes which such window openings serve. Thus, in each door there are two `vertical columns of such window openings, corresponding to the two columns of light boxes which are overlaid by such door when the door is closed. These window openings accommodate the name plates presently to be disclosed, so that any such light box or boxes which is illuminated will project its illumination through such window opening and name plate.

Reference is next invited to Figure 4 in particular in which there are shown the four columns of light boxes 3S, 36, 37 and 38; Each of these columns comprises the right and left-hand vertically extending Z-bars 40 and 41, respectively, best shown in Figures 5, 6 and 7. These Z- bars are set with their rear flanges 42 in engagement with the face of the back plate 20, and secured to such back plate in convenient manner, as by tack or spot welding. Furthermore, these Z-bar flanges are set approaching each other, thus projecting into the light boxes at the rear portions of such boxes; but accordingly, the front flanges 43 of such Z-bars extend outwardly from the respective light boxes as clearly evident in Figures 5, 6 and 7. Thus such front flanges of the Z-bars do not obstruct the light delivering ability of the light boxes, nor do such front Z- bar flanges infringe upon the exposed areas of such light boxes. seen from in front of the unit. Itis also evident that the front faces of such front Z-bar flanges provide vertical surfaces parallel to the doors when such doors are closed. This fact will be referred to later.

Extending horizontally across each of the` light boxes at its top and its bottom are the angle plates 44 and 45 (see Figures 8 and 9, and also Figure 14, and others). The flanges of these angle plates are at their forward edges. and the Webs of such angle plates are of depth such that said flanges 46 come into planar registry with the flanges 43 of the Z-bars, and to which reference has already been made. Also, said plates 44 and 45 are so set between the vertical Z-bars that said flanges 46 extend outwardly of their respective light boxes, thus not impairing the full exposure of the light box interiors to the windows of the doors when such doors are closed. It is also evident from Figures 8 and 9, as well as other figures, that the front faces of such angle `flanges register with the front faces of the Z-bar flanges 43. Thus there is provided a completely surrounding outwardly extending flange around the front end portion of each light box, the front surface of which completely surrounding element is substantially continuous and lies within a vertical plane parallel to the back of the unit, and also parallel to the corresponding door when such door is closed. It may be here mentioned that actually, since the several vertical Z-bars are continuous throughout the height of the central section 25 of the unit, there is also continuity of such surface vertically from light box to light box, although such intermediate portions of the Z-bar flanges 43 are not used in the same manner as 8 the ange portions which are located at the positions of the light boxes.

Preferably the upper and lower light box enclosing plates 44 and 45 are interlocked with the vertical Z-bars during assembly of the unit. To this end I have shown such interlocking arrangements in Figures 6, 14 and l5 in particular. This comprises the provision of an ear 47 formed on each end of each plate 44 or 45 (see Figure 14) with a slot 48 produced at the inner end of each such ear and extending rearwardly of the ear part way to the rear edge thereof. A corresponding slot 49 is produced in the proximate vertical Z-bar at its rear portion, reaching forwardly through the rear flange 42 of such Z-bar and through the web thereof, but terminating at a location l backwardly of the front end of the ear 47 of the plate 44 or By matching the plate slots with the Z-bar slots during assembly of these parts the plate may be brought forward far enough to lockingly engage the same with the Z-bar so that endwise displacement of the plate with respect to the Z-bar is prohibited. Then by tack welding or spot welding the rear flange 42 of the Z-bar to the back plate 2Q the horizontal plate is locked permanently in position as desired. If desired, the rear edge of such plate 44 or 45 may also be spot welded to the back plate 20, but this will generally be unnecessary.

Having assembled the column of light boxes, comprising the two vertical Z-bars and the corresponding horizontal plates 44 and 45' to the back plate 2() the structure has been brought to the condition that the front faces of both of the E-bar flanges 43, and the front faces of all of the horizontal plate flanges 46 have been brought into planar alignment. Then the surfacing of soft yieldable material such as foam rubber or the like, 56, may be applied to such surfaces so as to completely surround each of the light boxes with a thickness of such material substantially uniform throughout its area. To this end I prefer to use strips of such foam rubber or other suitable material cemented or otherwise adhered to the front faces of the several flanges in well understood manner. In Figure 4 I have shown the vertical strips Sii thus adhered to the front surfaces of the front flanges 43 of the Z-bars, and the horizontal strips S1 thus adhered to the front surfaces of the flanges 46 of the plates 44 and 45. By using strips of substantially the same and uniform thickness there is thus produced a final front surface of the foam rubber or like material completely surrounding each light box, and all such foam rubber surfaces lying in substantially the same vertical plane. Furthermore, such foam rubber or the like will then not infringe upon the full opening of each light box, so that full light emission therefrom will be produced by the contained light source.

I provide a light source within each light box and individual thereto. To this end I have shown the incandescent lamps 52 properly socketed and supported within the several light boxes. These lamps are shown as socketed into their respective sockets 53 which are in turn supported by the small brackets 54 which arc supported by the larger brackets 55 suitably mounted to and supported by the end walls of the several light boxes. Switches 56 individual to the various lamps are also supported by the brackets 5S, being provided with the forwardly extending operating finger pieces 57 of conventional construction and operation. lt is here noted that each of the lamp switches and its operating finger piece is completely contained within the confines of the corresponding light box, so that such switch cannot be reached and operated to either turn on or off the corresponding lamp without first gaining access to the interior of such light box. Accordingly, it is necessary to open the corresponding door of the enclosure to thus turn on or olf any one of the lamp switches.

It is noted that the foregoing arrangement of a series of vertically extending columns of light boxes, formed as previously detailed, and mounted on the back sheet as shown and described, leaves a vertical passageway be- -tween each proximate pair of such light box columns,y extending throughout the height of the columnar structure. These are the passageways 58, 59 and 60, best shown in Figures 4, 5, 6 and 7. The lower ends of these passageways communicate with the lower section 24 of the cabinet structure, and the upper ends of such passageways communicate with the upper section 23 of the cabinet structure. These passageways may conveniently be used for the accommodation of the necessary wiring to the various light boxes, and for supply of current to the several lamp units; and a main control switch 61 may be located at a convenient location to control supply of current to the entire assembly. The control handle of such main switch is shown in Figure l, working through a slot 62 formed in the front Wall of the lower section 24 for convenient operation by the proper person or persons. Preferably the lamp supporting brackets for the light boxes of the columns 35 and 36 are brought to the ends of such light boxes proximate to the passageway 59, and likewise the lamp supporting brackets for the light boxes of the columns 37 and 38 are brought to the ends of such light boxes proximate to the passageway 60. Accordingly, wiring carried up through these two passageways may serve both groups of lamp sockets with a minimum amount of wiring and convenience of assembly. Suitable wiring for the light box of the window opening 63 provided in the upper section 23 may also be provided with current supply through either of such passageways as desired.

A suitable transparent or translucent window or name plate is provided for each of the window openings 39 already referred to. The construction of these elements is best shown in Figures 8, 9, 10, 11, 12 and 13, to which attention is now invited: r

For each window opening 39 there is provided a plate 64 of transparent or translucent material, such as glass, plastic, or other suitable material. Each such plate is of the general form and thickness shown in Figures l0, 1l, 12 and 13 in particular. Such plate includes a central section 65 of thickness equal to that of the material from which the door is formed at `the location of such window, plus an additional thickness to provide an encircling flange 66 which projects beyond such central portion 65 around all or a portion of the perimeter of the window. Thus, by seating the central portion 65 into the window opening of the door and bringing the flange 66 into facial engagement with the inside face of the door, the outer surface of such window is brought into substantial planar registry with the outside surface of the door proper. This condition is shown in FiguresS, 6, 8, 9, and 12, and elsewhere.

Suitable insignia are provided on the window, either its inner or its outer surface, by any suitable operation, such as painting, with either transparent or translucent material or by leaving the insignia clear and transparent, while the remaining and surrounding areas of the window are provided with a non-polished finish, as by sand blasting, or various other methods of treatment of such windows may be used. The insignia may include the name of the memorialized deceased person, his date of birth, date of death, and other selected data. In this connection I also make reference to my co-pending application for Letters Patent of the United States, Serial No. 356,461, filed May 2l, 1953, and still pending, as disclosing windows suitable for use according to the inventive features herein disclosed, insofar as concerns the nish and other characteristics of such windows.

Suitable means are provided for removably retaining each such window in its window opening of the door. I shall disclose the same presently. At this point I call attention to the following:

When the door is closed it is intended that the inner surface of the flange portion 66 .of the window shall come into snug engagement' with the front surface of the soft yieldable material 50-51 carried bythe front perimeter of the light box and previously disclosed herein. To this end the parts, including the horizontal depth of the light box and the hinging of the door, are so proportioned that as the door approaches its finally closed position, carrying with it the several windows, the inner surfaces of the window anges 66 shall come into engagement with the front surfaces of thev soft yieldable material sections, so that the final door closing movement shall cause a slight compression of such soft yieldable material, and thus ensure good and light sealing engagement of the window therewith. Thereby any lateral transmission of light from an illuminated light box to its neighbors will be avoided, and the non-lighted light boxes will remain completely dark. This will enhance the striking elect produced by the illumination of the intentionally lighted light box, and thereby improve the intended effects. In connection with the foregoing final compressive effect it is not practically feasible to show the same in figures of the scale to which such figures as numbers 8, 9 and 10 are drawn, but actually a slight compressive effect is produced during the final stages of the door closing movement.

A further beneficial effect of such slight compression is as follows:

Due to the rather large size of the door, and the unit itself, there will necessarily be slight tolerances in manufacture such that all of the front surfaces of the soft yieldable material perimeters will not lie in exactly the same intended plane. Accordingly, were it not for the compressive capacity of the material it would be found that some, at least of the numerous windows would not be completely sealed by good engagement of the window perimeters with such soft yieldable surfacings. By using such soft yieldable material surfacings, of suiiicient thickness according to the overall size of the unit, and other considerations, the desired effect of ensuring complete and perfect engagement of the entire perimeter of each window with the entire perimeter of the corresponding light box, is attained, notwithstanding such slight tolerances in manufacture as will generally occur. Thus, in. the case of a unit of substantially the overall dimensions hereinbefore stated, namely, about 43 inches wide and 64 inches high, a thickness of such soft yieldahle material of the order of 0.10 inch will be found satisfactory, and will generally ensure good contact wherever desired. This thickness is of course stated, not as a matter of limitation, but rather by way of illustration of a satisfactory thickness used in a particular construction.

Itis noted that, if desired, the edges 67 of the windows 64 may be coated with opaque material such as black paint to thus prevent any lateral transmission of light from such edges. In this connection certain materials which are transparent to visible wave lengths possess the property of internally reflecting such visible rays so that their direction of transmission through the body of such material is changed. This quality of such materials is due to the internal crystalline nature of such materials. When it exists light entering a body of such material in one direction will be internally deflected and delivered, to some degree, in a direction other than that in which such light was originally incident to such block or mass of material. By coating the edges of the windows with opaque paint or the like any undesired effects otherwise produced by lateral delivery of some of the incident light will be avoided.

Referring to Figures l0 and 1l, I have therein shown spring pressed means to retain the windows in their window openings, but with provision whereby it is possible to remove and/or replace any selected window without the need of using special tools or the like for such operation. This means includes a thin, preferably slightly flexible, strip of material 68 having its end portion in engagement with the inner face of the edge portion of the window. Such strip is conveniently loosely set onto 1l a stud 69 extending inwardly from the adjacent door portion (indicated at 70 in Figure l0), which stud 69 is provided with a head such as a screw head 71. A light spring 72 is set onto such stud and has its outer end in engagement with the body of the strip 68 and its inner endin engagement with such head 71.1 Thus such spring acts to urge the strip firmly against the edge portion of the window, but sufficient length of the stud and the spring permit the window to be intentionally pressed rearwardly an amount sufficient to bring the window portion 65 back of the door sheet, thus permitting the window to be shifted laterally from its normal position of seat into the window opening of the door. Conveniently these strips are of width to reach between two adjacent edge portions of two adjacent windows, as shown in Figure l0, so that either of the windows served by such single strip may `be manipulated according to the operation just explained.

Preferably, also, these strips 68 are thus located on the horizontal door sections between window openings which are in vertical alignment with cach other. Thus, the ends of such strips 68 engage the horizontal and long edges of the respective windows. Also, it is generally desirable to provide two such strips 68 for each pair of windows, one such strip being located close to each end of the edge which it engages. Such an arrangement is shown in Figure ll where the two strips are designated as 63a and 68h for identification. With this arrangement, and by reference to such Figure ll, the following operation may be readily performed. By slightly shifting one end of the window rearwardly into the position shown at the high-hand portion of Figure l1, it is possible to bring such window into disengagement from the window opening of the door so that then such window may be shifted laterally, that is, sidewise with respect to the unit as a whole,` far enough to permit complete removal of the window from the door. On the other hand, when it is desired to insert a window into its opening a reverse operation will be performed. It is noted that when effecting such an operation as just delined no other window need be disturbed, the operation being individual to the window in question. Conveniently, the studs 69 have their forward ends screwed into small blocks 73 secured to the back face of the door sheet, and by adjustment of such screw studs the compressive forces developed by the springs may be readily adjusted for best operation.

l claim:

l. A memorial plaque comprising in combination a back plate, a companion pair of Z-bars extending in parallel relationship to each other adjacent to the front face of said back plate and with the rear flanges of the Z-bars extending towards each other and in facial contact with said front face of the back plate and secured thereto, the webs of the Z-bars projecting forwardly from said back plate, the front flanges of the Z-bars lying in a common plane parallel to the back plate and said front llanges extending in said plane outwardly from each other, a series of pairs of parallel angle plates extending be tween the webs of the Z-bars with one arm of each angle bar lying in a plane substantially at right angles to the back plate and having the rear edge of such arm in proximity to the front face of said back plate, the other arms of said angle plates comprising iianges, the flanges of each pair of angle plates lying in the common plane of the front Z-bar flanges and the flanges of each pair of angle plates extending outwardly away from each other, and means to secure the end portions of the angle plates to the proximate Z-bars, whereby each pair of angle plates and the portions of the Z-bars extending between them, together with the front face of the back plate enclosed by said angle plates and Z-bar portions constitute a box unit open at the plane of the lianges aforesaid, an electric lamp socket within each such box unit and secured in place therein, switch means within each` box unit in connection with the corresponding lamp socket for control of current supply to said lamp socket, and a common door for all said box units and comprising a sheet of material of size to overlie all such box units when the door is in closed position parallel to the corn mon plane of said front flanges, and means to hinge said door for swing towards and away from said common plane, the door when in closed postiion lying parallel to and in close proximity to said common plane, a window opening in said door corresponding to each box unit and in location of the door to register with the corresponding box unit when the door is closed to said common plane proximity, and a light transmitting window secured in each door window opening and carrying characters to be illuminated by light transmitted from a light bulb carried by the socket of the box unit corresponding to such window opening and window when the switch contained within such corresponding box unit is in current closed condition.

2. Means as defined in claim l, wherein the means to secure the end portions of the angle plates to the proximate Z-bars comprise interlocking slots of the end portions of the angle plates and the proximate portions of the Z-bars.

3. Means as defined in claim 2, wherein said interlocking slots include rearwardly extending slots on the rear portions of the ends of the angle bar webs in position to receive the rear portions of the Z-bars at the locations of the corresponding angle plates, and includ: forwardly extending slots on the rear portions of thc Z-bars in position to receive the rear portions of the corresponding ends of the corresponding angle plates.

4. Means as defined in claim 1, wherein each lamp socket is secured to one web of one of the Z-bnrs aforesaid.

5. Means as defined in claim 4, wherein the sockets of all of the box units are secured to the Z-bar web.

6. Means as defined in claim 5, together with current leads extending parallel to such Z--bar web and outside of the box units, together with connections from such current leads to all of the corresponding lamp sockets.

7. Means as defined in claim 6, wherein there are provided two sets of said companion pairs of Z-bars and the companion angle plates constituting two sets of the box units, such sets of box units extending parallel to each other, and wherein the lamp sockets of the two sets of box units are secured to the Z-bar webs of the two pairs ot Z-bars which webs are proximate to cach other, and wherein said proximate Z-bar webs are separated from each other a distance to provide a channel between them extending parallel to the back plate, and wherein the current leads for the sockets of both sets of box units extend lengthwise along such channel to serve the sockets of both sets of box units.

8. A memorial plaque comprising in combination a back plate, a companion pair of Z-bars extending in paz'- allel relationship to each other adjacent to the front face of said back plate and with the rear llanges ot the Z-bars extending towards each other and in facial contact with said front face of the back plate and secured thereto, the webs of the Z-bars projecting forwardly from said back plate, the front flanges of the Z-barz; lying in a common plane parallel to the back plate and said front anges extending in said plane outwardly trom each other, a series of pairs of parallel angle plates extending between the webs of the Z-bars with one arm of each angle bar lying in a plane substantially at right angles to the back plate and having the rear edge oi such arm in proximity to the front face of said baci: plate, the other arms of said angle plates comprising flanges, the flanges of each pair of angle plates lying in the common plane of the front Z-bar flanges and the llanges of each pair of angle plates extending outwardly away from each other, and means to secure the end portions of the angle plates to the proximate Z-bars,

lamp

same

whereby each pair of angle plates and the portions of the Z-bars extending between them, together with the front face of the back plate enclosed by said angle plates and Z-bar portions constitute a box unit open at the plane of the anges aforesaid, an electric lamp socket within each such box unit and secured in place therein, yieldable soft material on the front faces of the flanges of the Z-bars and angle plates and surrounding each such box unit, and a common door for all said box units and comprising a sheet of material of size to overlie all such box units when the door is in closed position parallel to the common plane of said front anges, and means to hinge said door for swing towards and away from said common plane, the door when in closed position lying parallel to and in facial contact with the yieldable soft material surrounding each box unit, and a window opening in said door corresponding to each box unit and in location of the door to register with the corresponding box unit over an area contained within the perimeter of the yieldable soft material surrounding such box unit, and a light transmitting window secured in each door window opening and carrying characters to be illuminated by light transmitted from a light bulb carried by the socket of the box unit corresponding to such window opening and window when the lamp socket is electrified, the yieldable soft material serving to prevent lateral leakage of light from such box unit when so electrified.

9. Means as dened in claim 8, wherein the yieldable soft material comprises foam rubber or the like.

10. Means as defined in claim 8, wherein the light 14 transmitting windows are individually removable from the corresponding window openings of the door.

11. Means as dened in claim 10, together with spring means to retain each window within the corresponding window opening of the door.

l2. Means as dened in claim 1l, wherein each window includes a central body portion of size to seat Within the window opening and a flange portion of larger size to seat against the inner surface of the door over an area at least partially surrounding the corresponding window `opening when the body portion of the Window is received within the window opening, together with spring means urging such ange portion towards the inner surface of the door.

13. Means as defined in claim 12, wherein such spring means comprises a leaf having one end portion in engagement with the inner surface of the ilange of the window and another portion extending beyond such ange, together with spring means to urge said leaf towards the inner surface of the door.

14` Means as defined in claim 13, wherein said spring urging means is yieldable rearwardly of the door by an amount at least as great as the projection of the window into the door opening.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Leslie May 4, 1909 Hammock Mar. 13, 1923 Peterson Nov. 27, 1923 

